DNA is essential for life and has its own particular structure that maintains its integrity during its replication. However it can be damaged.
Part A: Describe the structural components of DNA and outline mammalian DNA replication and repair.
Part B: Describe at least one consequence of failure to repair damaged DNA
Throughout the years, humans, especially scientists, noticed the similar characteristics different living organisms inherit from their parents. How those traits were inherited from one generation to the other left the scientists and researchers in confusion. Later in the 20th century, scientists and researchers found out that the reason behind this heredity lays behind genes, which are made up of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
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The DNA strands run in opposite directions with one strand being upside-down (Walter et al., 2002). Each nucleotide consists of a deoxyribose sugar that is linked to a phosphate group by a phosphodiester bond to make the backbone of the DNA, and one of the four nitrogen bases (Walter et al., 2002). The four nitrogen bases are adenine (A) and guanine (G) which are purines having two organic rings, and cytosine (C) and thymine (T) which are pyrimidines having one organic ring. The bases pair up by hydrogen bonding to hold the DNA strands together (Walter et al., 2002). A purine is always paired with a pyrimidine since pairing two purines together would be too wide and pairing two pyrimidines together would be too narrow, therefore A is always paired with T and C with G (Campbell et al., 2014, pp. 368 – 383). Hence, DNA is made of a building block called the nucleotide that makes up the two strands and the nucleotide consists of a phosphate group that is attached to a sugar group and a nitrogen …show more content…
It is also an inherited syndrome that is recognized by having a short figure and a very high photosensitivity and in some cases; it may lead to cancer (National Organization for Rare Disorders, 2003). Bloom syndrome is caused by mutations in the BLM gene, which is responsible for giving out instructions to produce RecQ helicases that supports the DNA double helical structure (National Organization for Rare Disorders, 2003). During cell division, the two sister chromatids, which have the DNA copied from both parents chromosomes, goes through a process called sister chromatid exchange where they exchange small parts of the DNA (Genetics Home Reference, 2015). The process may be the reason behind the DNA damage during replication and therefore, the BLM protein works to lessen the sister chromatid exchanges during cell division which as a result helps the DNA maintain its structure (Genetics Home Reference, 2015). In Bloom syndrome, the BLM protein is absent and this is due to the presence of the BLM gene mutation, therefore, the sister chromatid exchange rates would increase which would increase damages in the DNA and therefore block the process of replication (Genetics Home Reference, 2015). This means that without the presence of the BLM protein, DNA damage that is caused by ultraviolet light may not be repaired and DNA replication would be blocked (Genetics Home Reference,
Furthermore, DNA is found in large quantities within the eukaryotic cell. Human cells alone have around 1000 times more DNA than typical bacteria [Alberts, c1989, p.23]. DNA, both on its own and with other molecules, plays a huge role in the making of an organism, from the importance of its chiral helical structure and its main functions, to the vast vicinity of error and inaccuracy that a small change to the genomic sequence can cause. It is the foundation upon which an organism is built and the main contributor to an organisms genotype and phenotype. But what are the constituents of DNA and can it
Without diversity and variation among humans, the world would be quite monotonous. Although these disparities materialize on the exterior (e.g. hair color, eye color, widow’s peak, etc.) the authentic distinction lies deep within one’s genome. A genome consists of an organism’s DNA, thus providing the blueprint for growth and development (Moalem, 2014). Well-known physician, scientist, and author, Sharon Moalem expounded on the significance of genetics in one of his most prominent novels, Inheritance: How Genes Change Our Lives and Our Lives Change Our Genes. A myriad of biological concepts exist in this novel, all of which relate to genetics and the laws of inheritance. A few of these topics include: how genes are regulated/expressed, how a single change in DNA can alter the protein it codes for, and how ethics has an effect on genetics. These topics pertain to Big Idea 3: Living systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information essential to life processes (CollegeBoard, 2015).
Most DNA is found inside the nucleus of a cell, where it forms the chromosomes. Chromosomes have proteins called histones that bind to DNA. DNA has two strands that twist into the shape of a spiral ladder called a helix. DNA is made up of four building blocks called nucleotides: adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). The nucleotides attach to each other (A with T, and G with C) to form chemical bonds called base pairs, which connect the two DNA strands. Genes are short pieces of DNA that carry specific genetic information.
The DNA then tries to repair itself, however this process is extremely error prone and the mutations are random. Again, researchers have found that this step can be manipulated to have their chosen effect by inserting another section of DNA that contains the desired sequence. This template can recombine as part of the strand replacing the original sequence with this new version.
DNA is 2 strands of coiled molecules called a double helix, it gives us all different characteristics and qualities, It is also a hereditary material found in humans and almost all other organisms. DNA bases pair up with each other, Adenine(A) must pair with Thymine(T) and Guanine(G) must pair with Cytosine(C) to make weak hydrogen bonds. DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid made of subunits called nucleotides. Nucleotides are made of a Phosphate group, 5 carbon sugar, and a nitrogenous base. 2 hydrogen bonds are required to bond Adenine(A) and Thymine(T), 3 hydrogen bonds are required to bond Guanine(G) and Cytosine(C). Each base pair is combined by a hydrogen bond.
DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is found in nearly every single one of the 75 trillion cells that made the human body. Chromosomes are made up of protein and DNA molecules. An in-depth look at these threadlike strands reveals what scientist’s calls the double helix. This large, double-stranded molecule resembles a long, spiraling ladder. The sides of this ladder are made up of four building blocks called nucleotides. Each nucleotide is made of a sugar joined to a phosphate and a base. These bases include Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Guanine (G) and Cytosine (C), “the four letters that make up the DNA alphabet”. Nucleotides pairs up according to strict rules, the A-T and G-C base pairs repeats in various sequences repeatedly, creating the 3 billion
Among the many types of DNA damage, one of the most severe is DNA double strand breaks (DSB). DNA DSBs occur when two complementary strands break simultaneously generating two strands which are not being held together by base-pairing and chromatin structure. Few known causes for DSB are ionizing radiation, chemical mutagens, reactive oxygen species and drugs which are used for chemotherapy (Goodsell, 2005). This breakage can cause chromosomal rearrangement such as translocation and inversion, consequentially resulting in detrimental phenotypic affects.
Scientist have the discovered the interactions between molecules and proteins within the cell that inhibit or stop the body’s ability to repair DNA damage over time. As the body ages, its ability to repair DNA gradually declines and that loss leads to bodily degeneration and a higher risk for cancer, the uncontrolled and abnormal growth of cells that don’t undergo apoptosis or cell death. This discovery is important to the scientific and medical community because it identifies the main players in the protein bindings and molecules that inhibit or promote DNA repair within the cells. This is important because with the key mechanism of cellular degeneration and aging being discovered, medical researchers can develop therapeutic techniques to
Deoxyribonucleic corrosive is a particle that conveys the hereditary directions utilized as a part of the development, improvement, working and multiplication of all known living beings and numerous infections. DNA and ribonucleic corrosive (RNA) are nucleic acids; close by proteins, lipids and complex sugars (polysaccharides), they are one of the four noteworthy sorts of macromolecules that are fundamental for every single known type of life. Most DNA atoms comprise of two biopolymer strands snaked around each other to shape a twofold helix.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) - Is a double helix with two strands that are twisted around one another. Each strand is made of four types of base: Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine and Guanine also represented as (A, T, C, and G). The two strands are held together by the specific mutual attraction that the base, Adenine is always attracted to Thymine and Cytosine is attracted to Guanine. The pair of base will continue to pair together as they structure a spiral staircase. DNA is also passes along through reproduction to their offsprings, one set of DNA from each parent will complete the contribution to the diversity of life.
The Nucleic acids are seen to be linear polymers which make chains of nucleotides. In such chains, each nucleotide is made up of three components which are discussed above. These structures are further subdivided into the nucleobases that is found in the two nucleic acids. These subdivisions include: adenine, cytosine, and guanine which are all found in both RNA and DNA molecules. In contrast,
Data storage and replication is one of the major roles of DNA in a human cell. Precise replicas of the human genome must be stored within each cell so genes can be
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) which is found in all living thing and one of the building blocks of the body. (1, 2, 3) The molecule is found in the nucleus of the cell and it is a double helix molecule and it looks like a twisted ladder. If it was unwound the molecule would be 6 feet in length! (2) DNA has 3 nucleotides which are sugar, base, and phosphate. (1) The four bases, which are adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine(C), and guanine (G) and they are all Nitrogen bases and there are about 3 billion of them.(1, 2, 3, 4) Adenine and thymine always pair up with one another and cytosine and guanine always pair together. (1, 2, 3, 4) In the cell there is also the RNA which acts as the messenger for the DNA because the
Heredity is the passing on of characteristics from one generation to the next. These characteristics form from our parents and can include hair or skin colour, diseases or disorders. Heredity occurs to all living creatures including humans, animals, plants, bacteria, protists and fungi (Office of Education, 2015). In this report, I will be discussing heredity and when, where, who and how over the years scientists have discovered it. The main scientist who will be discussed in the report is Frederick Griffiths who tries to invent a vaccine , then Oswald Avery who was fascinated by Fredericks work and carried out further experiments. Then in 1950 Linus Pauling who discovered protein molecules which have a helical shape, then in 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick used the results of all these scientist to discover the meaning of life which was the structure of DNA.
The process of DNA replication plays a crucial role in providing genetic continuity from one generation to the next. Knowledge of the structure of DNA began with the discovery of nucleic acids in 1869. In 1952, an accurate model of the DNA molecule was presented, thanks to the work of Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, and Francis Crick. To reproduce, a cell must copy and transmit its genetic information (DNA) to all of its progeny. To do so, DNA replicates following the process of semi-conservative replication. Two strands of DNA are obtained from one, having produced two daughter molecules that are identical to one another and to the parent molecule. This essay reviews the three stages